Overview & Reviews

Finally realizing that a 120-horsepower engine has no business being in a 3,500-pound (or more) pickup, Dodge drops the 2.5-liter inline four from the Dakota's powertrain roster. An optional five-speed automatic transmission for the 4.7-liter V8 debuts, as does a Stampede package that provides the show but not the go of the R/T model. Speaking of the R/T, that model receives four-wheel disc brakes this year.

• Plentiful V8 power, alert transmission, spot-on suspension both on- and off-road, easily accessible and accommodating cabin.

• As thirsty as a frat brother, a bit big for serious off-roading, can get pricey if too many options are chosen.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 89.00

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  Friday afternoon off the assembly line - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By Ken - December 5 - 9:22 pm

  Nice truck, but at 31k the tranny would lock in 2nd gear (they called it limp mode) any time it went through a large puddle. Replaced 2 sensors several times to no avail. Dealer stopped covering the replacements after the third event. They contacted Dodge in 2007 and told if the sensors lose sight of the ground, they do this to avoid an overspeed. Told them to bypass the sensors all together, seemed to work. However, in 6 years it went through 2 wiper motors, 2 blower relays, the tail gate failed twice, seat broke once and it leaked (they tried to fix that twice). Guess it was the Friday pm one. Anyway, traded it in the day I got the title. Have a Tacoma now.

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  Northeast Driving - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By YanksSck - May 25 - 7:15 pm

  I inherited an 03 Dakota 2 years ago. I live in the Northeast and not having 4WD pretty much just doesnt work out. It gets stuck every time there is more than 3 inches of snow on the ground, and slides all over the place in any snow or ice (which is pretty much 3 full months a year). Piling weight in the back just doesnt seem to help. The fuel economy is terrible for a 2wd vehicle, my count is about 18 mph highway at best but i have got as little as 8 city. The Truck would be fine in a snow less region, but if you live in a cold climate look elsewhere. You can get much more traction power without sacrificing too much in MPG.

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  03 Dakota - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By tommy - August 5 - 11:57 am

  We purchased our 03 Dakota Reg. Cab SXT RWD for $13K. It was a nice "beater" car for my dad for work. But we have clocked on average of 12-15 mpg city and probably 19 highway. We had to replace the tires at 20k and then again and 45k. We were in a minor car accident with it where we tapped the back of another car on a freeway ramp, and it caused $400 damage. The plastic hood-release lever, broke off and had to get it replaced. The A/C conked out when he had 100-degree plus weather, which we took the repair shop and he found out that not only the cooling pump was shot but there was a cylinder- 6 miss-fire which couldve been dangerous if it died on the highway.

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  Scared Me - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By John - January 27 - 12:46 pm

  This truck had a road hop that I couldnt overcome.Living on back roads,going up hills it would start to wheel hop either right or left. At interstate speeds, the steering was strange, it would drift and a slight adjustment at times would over correct and scare the heck out of me. I had a 93 Dakota and never had these problems with that truck.

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  Not a Snow Queen - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By wayne bahlieda - January 21 - 4:59 pm

  Owned for a year and one half and found vehicle to be impractical. It basically is a two seater. Selected the 2 wheel drive option with traction control. Compared to a front wheel drive vehicle, the vehicle had poor traction in fresh snow or on ice. The icing on the cake was the poor gas mileage. Traded the vehicle for a PT Crusier.

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  What a dog!! - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By stuart brown - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I rectently purchased a 6 cylinder quad cab. Do not ever buy that engine. It has no power when going into a 20 mph wind on the interstate. I heard a big sucking sound. It was my gas leaving my tank. I would never again buy this vehicle.

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  never buy again - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By bad dodge - August 30 - 2:00 am

  i bought the truck with the oem trailer group and severe service group. for what the truck is rated to tow it does not live up the its standards by any means. the fact that my fender flares are falling off as well does not help. the truck has only 8990 miles on it. second why is it that my trucks value is falling faster then i can pay it off? i bought every option on it but when it comes to trade it in none that seems to matter. = by the way it is a automatic

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  bad choice - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By msr212 - August 6 - 2:00 am

  I Had the truck less then a week, 500 miles and I had to bring it back to the dealership due to lack of power and after being told there was nothing wrong they had to tear the engine apart and redo the valves along with change items in the trani. now at 20,000 miles my a/c switch has broken and only works on high and the a/c is leaking in the truck!

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  Should have bought a Tacoma - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By manly - June 28 - 2:00 am

  I was so close to getting a Tacoma and now I wish I had. Gas guzzling and noisy truck with bad fit.

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  no power and bad gas milage - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By eric doukas - October 5 - 2:00 am

  not very happy with this truck wish i never bought it